The Liverpool Thread

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7 too many like going to the disgrace in the desert. But at least its a small number. And most won’t play.


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Well that was a great way to end the season before the ‘new’ one starts in a month and half’s time.

Today’s/ Yesterday’s Admin-

Title Countdown:
6 wins down/ 24 to go.
22 points down/ 72 to go.

Current Unbeaten League Run-
P 2 W 2 D F 5 A 2

And as its the last game until the belter return with City-

Current Unbeaten Run All Comps-
P 4 W 3 D 1 F 7 A 2 CS: 2

Yanno’, it’s funny, given how indifferent the league form has been, that we’re actually not too far away from where I always hoped we would be going into this scandalously enforced break for the farcical disgrace in the desert-

Champions league qualification boxed and a mouth watering tie of ties to look forward to against Madrid in late February/ early March. ✅

League Cup defence up and and running with another mouth watering tie to look forward to the first game back on the Thursday of Christmas week at City. ✅

And only 2 games outside where I hoped we'd be with the only other team capable of winning this leagu.e (Soz Arsenal. Not that there's any such thing as a 'Title Race' after 14 games, but you are light years behind City and ourselves still over 38 games. As near perfect a start as you've had on paper.). I always said if you got to the break within 2 games of City, you'd be in with a serious chance come the re-start. Whilst we've slightly under-achieved to that end, being only 4 back on them/ 10 points, is a totally manageable situation. At the very least, 2nd place is still WELL within our sights as we now rest up, reset, and look forward to an effectively totally new season from late December. With FAR less players at the WC then any of our major rivals.

And we're going into the break on a really nice run of form and momentum. Not that it screams 'greatness', but this is our longest unbeaten run this year at 4 games and only the third time we've put back-to-back PL victory's together. All-in-all, since the horror show in Naples and whatever the heck that was, we've quietly put a really nice little run together of 9 wins and 2 draws through 14 games. Of course the outliers to those three defeats were the horrendous no-shows against Forest and Leeds. But in context of our mixed league form, all the injuries we've had to deal with, on top of the natural fatigue, both mentally and physically, that patently rolled over from last year's epic season of playing every possible game, I honestly couldn't be much happier than where we are currently sat and all we have to look forward to in 2023.

All which culminated yesterday in well arguably our best showing of the season to date.

No manager? NO problem! Were it not for the Southampton goalie, that would have finished up a cricket score. And yeah, our POTY to date Alisson made some stunning saves too with still some laxed defending in there. (Not least on their goal. Although props to JWP for an outstanding delivery.). But we were always 2/3 goals better and you always felt we could score anytime we went forward.

Particular standouts were-

AndyRobbo who had a storming game yet again since his return from injury. Man has he TOTALLY put to bed the mad shouts for Tsimikas to start ahead of him. Absolutely NO comparison between the two at all. Which is absolutely NO disrespect to Nick the Greek who's as solid a back-up as you could wish for. Just not someone you want consistently starting. And not least ahead of one of, if not the, best left full in world football.

And both Harvey and Darwin who absolutely run the game. The former has been our best outfield performer to this point by far for me. Ridiculous talent and, lest we forget, he's still only a teenager! Outstanding 67 minutes yesterday with a top assist thrown in to boot. Totally ran the game. SO mature for someone so young and getting better and better the more exposure he gets and experience he gains. And that Darwin Nunez isn't too shabby for a complete flop aye? 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ 18 games/ 9 goals/ 2 assists from only 10 starts. And since we've finally done away with the madness of getting away from what made us so unplayable these past 7 season, the 4-3-3, and let him roam unabated down the left, coming inside to cause havoc, he's getting better and better by the passing game. Every trait you want in a top #9 who is only going to get better and better. He's some more top coaching away from being unplayable. Even when he's bad, he just excites the heck out of you and you continue to love his boundless energy and enthusiasm.

And it's absolutely NO coincidence that the two best players on the park again, H and Darwin, were wearing black boots! Can't tell you how refreshing that is. Proper old school. Those lads know! 😉

I thought we had a new goalie at KO. But it turned out Alisson had just had just been the barbers and cleaned himself up! 🤦‍♂️ He can rock any look he wants when he continues to play at the ridiculous levels he has this year. How he's not the definitive #1 for Brazli going into the WC is a continuing headscratcher. 🤷🏼‍♂️ On another level to any other goalie out there right now and that's not even open to debate.

And what can you say about the timeless James Milner? 😍😍😍 To STILL be producing at the very highest level, with the unmatched enthusiasm and dedication he continues to show day in, day out, TWENTY years in, is a testament to the ultimate professional he is. Seeing him come on to box the game off yesterday, making his 600th PL appearance to join the select group of Gareth Barry, Ryan Giggs and Frank Lampard to achieve that ridiculous amount of top flight games in the hardest league in World football ..... You just can't speak highly enough of hm and just what he continues to bring to our changies.

And it was brilliant to see both Oxo-Chambo get another solid 20 mins under his belt after his 90 midweek. And 16-year-old wonder kid Ben Doak make a PL bench for the first time. TOTALLY on merit and not through a lack of bodies after his boss cameo against Derby through the week. Another major step forward in his fast burgeoning development.

Boss atmosphere too in what was a really enjoyable last game before a much needed break for ourselves as much as the players. Speaking personally, I'm really looking forward to not having to think about football and totally switching off for the nexxt month and a half. It's just recently I've been realising just how much Paris is still effecting me. The enthusiasm for certain things just isn't there yanno' and maybe I should have taken more counselling when it was offered. So this break has come at the perfect time to get my head right and reset for what is a proper exciting second half of this mad season to look forward to. Starting with a belter Thursday night return at City in a mammoth LC tie.

Last I checked, we are still the only club that can do a quintuple this season. 😛

Up the 'Pool. Mighty Reds! FTT!!!!!
 
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The Chelsea ***** will be getting ideas for ‘improving’ PL games ….. 🤦‍♂️

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Pertinent and topical from Sam Maguire writing for ‘AnfieldIndex’-


SMART TRUMPS BIG

The Cristiano Ronaldo saga is the perfect example of why smart money will often trump big money.
​

Manchester United are reckless spenders. To appease fans in the short-term, they’ll part with hundreds of millions every single summer. They can do this and there aren’t consequences to their actions due to the fact they’re a financial juggernaut. But it very rarely benefits them in the long-term. They just get stuck with overpriced players.

Harry Maguire is the world’s most expensive centre-back and he’s started a grand total of three Premier League matches this season. Aaron Wan-Bissaka cost £50million and he has featured in four minutes for the Red Devils in domestic competition. Donny Van De Beek was reportedly bought for £40million and he barely features. Jadon Sancho is a starter for United under Erik Ten Hag but he doesn’t look like a £75milion player.

That is the best part of £250million on those four players before you even take into account their salaries and potential bonuses. Liverpool’s starting XI against Southampton cost £335million. The bench was £50million. Obviously the likes of Luis Diaz, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota and Jordan Henderson weren’t available and those four cost £140million so the Reds have spent money, but they haven’t wasted it like United.

And this brings me to Ronaldo.

He has used the “Glazers don’t care” line to get a cheap pop like a WWE wrestler. He has critciised the facilities and the decisions made by the club, but he was more than happy to sign a contract believed to be worth £450,000-per-week when they had Champions League football on offer. He didn’t seem to care about all of these issues when he was deemed to be the main man. Because that is the point, isn’t it? He doesn’t care about the Manchester United project and he doesn’t have an interest in getting them back to the top. When your highest paid player simply doesn’t care, your process is flawed. But this is what happens when money is thrown around as opposed to invested wisely.

I know many fans want a billionaire to buy Liverpool so that the club are able to spend get involved in those bidding wars we’ve previously sat out of. Ultimately, it is all irrelevant, as shown by United’s situation, if you aren’t being smart with your money.

Sam McGuire
 
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